Columbia College launches online MBA in January 2007

[Columbia, Mo.]-Columbia College launched its online Master of Business Administration in January 2007, making it the first online graduate degree offered by the college. More than 125,000 students are earning MBAs online from institutions nationwide.

"Working adults appreciate the convenience and flexibility of online education," said Dr. Gerald Brouder, president of Columbia College. "Our Online Campus is well respected and successful. With the online MBA, the college will build on its long tradition of excellence by offering students another venue to earn an advanced degree."

Columbia College launched the Online Campus in 2000 with 10 classes and 180 students. Today, the Online Campus offers more than 400 classes and 16 degrees with more than 12,000 students taking at least one online course each year.

As with all online and on-campus degree programs at Columbia College, the online MBA is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. In addition, few accredited online MBA programs in the country, much less private institutions, can match Columbia College's tuition at $290 per credit hour.

Eight-week online MBA classes are offered in January, March, June, August and October. Currently, the MBA also is offered on campus at six Columbia College campuses, including the home campus in Columbia. Students living near those campuses may take MBA classes online or in seat or both.

"Students in the online MBA program at Columbia College can complete the degree at their own pace," said Dr. Gary Massey, associate dean of Adult Higher Education and director of the Online Campus. "They aren't locked into attending classes with one student group or cohort. This gives them the flexibility to attend all five sessions per year or just one."

While students can earn an online MBA in 15 months, most people average about two years to complete the degree. Students can transfer in nine of the 36 credit hours needed to graduate, making it possible for them to earn an MBA in less than one year.

To be considered for admission to the online MBA program at Columbia College, students must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with at least a 3.0 undergraduate cumulative GPA and have two to three years of substantive work experience.

Columbia College serves nearly 25,000 students each year at its Day Campus, 32 Nationwide Campuses, Online Campus and Graduate Studies Program.

The college was founded in 1851 as Christian Female College and was renamed Columbia College in 1970 when it became coeducational.

For more information about the online MBA program at Columbia College, visit www.ccis.edu/onlineMBA or call (800) 231-2391, ext. 7246.